Qld records suspected Omicron variant from Newcastle nightclub as more exposure sites announced

Queensland is on edge after a positive case visited a nightclub where the Omicron variant spread interstate and exposure sites are announced.

Queensland has listed new exposure sites after recording six new locally acquired cases of Covid-19, one of which had visited a Newcastle nightclub that was later confirmed as an Omicron hotspot.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath confirmed two of the new cases were being treated as the Omicron variant.

One was a person who visited Newcastle’s Argyle House nightclub.

“In both of these cases we are awaiting genomic sequencing to come back,” she told reporters on Wednesday.

Ms D’Ath said the second case of concern had visited a hotspot in Newcastle, before flying to Brisbane and then Townsville.

Another previously reported case from the UK also tested positive to the Omicron variant in hotel quarantine.

Ms D’Ath said the six cases had visited a number of sites across the state and had been infectious for up to six days.

“Places such as Goondiwindi, Wide Bay, Townsville, Gold Coast and Brisbane South have all reported these cases,” Ms D’Ath said.

On Wednesday evening, Queensland Health released new exposure sites across South Brisbane, with a public health alert issued for new contact tracing locations in Sunnybank, Upper Mount Gravatt, and Cannon Hill.

âš  Public Health Alert âš 

New contact tracing locations exist:

📍 New Farm
📍 Mount Gravatt
📍 Brisbane Airport
✈️ VA1105 Gate 48
✈️ VA375 Gate 41
✈️ QF2426 Newcastle to Brisbane
✈️ JQ486 Gate 27
🚆 Beenleigh Line

Full details: https://t.co/sDcoTgRvQ3pic.twitter.com/YRvWFYcsi5

— Queensland Health (@qldhealth) December 15, 2021

The new cases come after widespread mockery of a decision to force two planes of passengers into quarantine for Christmas.

Just two days after the Sunshine State opened its borders, dozens of flight passengers aboard at least two Virgin flights to Brisbane and Townsville have been asked to isolate after being deemed close contacts of someone with the virus.

New chief health officer John Gerard will front the media this morning with Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath. Pics Adam Head.

Passengers on VA1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane and VA375 from Brisbane to Townsville have been asked to isolate for 14 days – with tourists forced into hotel quarantine – regardless of negative results or their vaccination status.

The decision was widely derided and a source of anxiety for anyone looking to fly into the state for the summer, with visitors now facing two weeks of quarantine if a single person on their flight is positive.

But Ms D’Ath said the government had overturned that decision, with most passengers deemed close contacts and ordered to get tested and isolate until a negative result is returned.

People sitting around the infected traveller will still need to go into quarantine.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath will face the music over the decision to force passengers to quarantine for Christmas. Picture: Adam Head

“Flights have been going between NSW and Vic for months – has there been a single superspreader event on a flight relating to a Covid case?” ABC’s 7.30 host Leigh Sales wrote on Twitter.

“What is the basis of Qld locking up planeloads of vaxed people for Christmas without warning or precedent?”

Chief health officer John Gerrard reiterated omicron was “very contagious” and it would be a matter of weeks, not months before the variant spreads in Queensland.

“It won’t be a surprise, we’re not going to change our plans as a result of that,” Mr Gerrard said.

“Most of us believe the speed with which we’ll reach a peak is faster than originally anticipated … from what we’re seeing in NSW and the UK.”

Originally published as Qld records suspected Omicron variant from Newcastle nightclub as more exposure sites announced